Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. Question 3 was answered by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Minister after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 14.19

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Minister after question 2.

To ask the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip

Cefin Campbell (Mid and West Wales): What assessments are the Welsh Government undertaking of the predicted redundancies at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli?

To ask the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism

Tom Giffard (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on the recently announced establishment of a fund for a reporter to cover the proceedings of the Senedd?

The item started at 15.12

Answered by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip

Cefin Campbell (Mid and West Wales): What assessments are the Welsh Government undertaking of the predicted redundancies at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli?

Answered by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism

Tom Giffard (South Wales West): Will the Minister make a statement on the recently announced establishment of a fund for a reporter to cover the proceedings of the Senedd?

At 15.39, Tom Giffard raised a Point of Order to state that the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism had misrepresented comments he had made during his earlier Topical Question. The Deputy Presiding Officer indicated that he would review the Record and return to the matter.

At 19.37, the Deputy Presiding Officer stated that he had reviewed the Record and would write to the Members involved.

The item started at 15.12

Carolyn Thomas made a statement on - National Meadows Day (1 July).

Vikki Howells made a statement on – The 2024 National Eisteddfod Proclamation Ceremony held in Aberdare (24 June)

James Evans made a statement on – Wales winning at the World Shearing Championships (25 June).

Altaf Hussein made a statement on - Eid al-Adha (festival of Sacrifice) and its importance to Muslims in Wales and beyond (28 June)

The item started at 15.46

NNDM8313 Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Heledd Fychan (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the Business Committee in place of Siân Gwenllian (Plaid Cymru).

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8293 Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the introduction of a civic duty to vote.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) to seek to emulate the success of other democracies that have introduced a civic duty to vote in increasing levels of voter turnout at elections and thereby improving the level of engagement and representativeness across all ages, classes and communities;

b) to introduce a civic duty for all those eligible to vote to participate in Senedd and county council elections;

c) to allow those wishing to indicate their dissatisfaction with a candidate, party or politics more broadly to so by means of a positive abstention option on the ballot paper;

d) to allow for the introduction of an appropriate sanction for non-compliance with the civic obligation to vote or positively abstain, with legitimate exemptions; and

e) to provide for the introduction of a pilot phase for the introduction of the duty on an age-specific basis.

Supporters

Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

The item started at 15.47

Voting on the motion under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM8293 Adam Price (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr)

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on the introduction of a civic duty to vote.

2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to:

a) to seek to emulate the success of other democracies that have introduced a civic duty to vote in increasing levels of voter turnout at elections and thereby improving the level of engagement and representativeness across all ages, classes and communities;

b) to introduce a civic duty for all those eligible to vote to participate in Senedd and county council elections;

c) to allow those wishing to indicate their dissatisfaction with a candidate, party or politics more broadly to so by means of a positive abstention option on the ballot paper;

d) to allow for the introduction of an appropriate sanction for non-compliance with the civic obligation to vote or positively abstain, with legitimate exemptions; and

e) to provide for the introduction of a pilot phase for the introduction of the duty on an age-specific basis.

Supporters

Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

The result was as follows:

The motion was agreed.

NDM8304 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Equality and Social Justice Committee report, '60% - Giving them a voice: Speech, language and communication needs in the youth justice system', laid on 19 April 2023.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 21 June 2023.

The item started at 16.14

NDM8304 Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Equality and Social Justice Committee report, '60% - Giving them a voice: Speech, language and communication needs in the youth justice system', laid on 19 April 2023.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 21 June 2023.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8306 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-06-1340 Stop the change of speed limits to 20mph on 17th September’ which received 21,920 signatures.

The item started at 17.01

NDM8306 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition ‘P-06-1340 Stop the change of speed limits to 20mph on 17th September’ which received 21,920 signatures.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8307 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the importance of the rural economy and the role that small businesses play in rural communities across Wales.

2. Recognises the valuable contribution of Welsh farming to the rural economy.

3. Acknowledges the benefits of events such as the Royal Welsh Show, the National Eisteddfod and others in supporting rural communities and promoting the Welsh language and culture.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) create an infrastructure strategy to address the challenges facing rural communities; and

b) redouble efforts to tackle poor public transport connectivity across rural Wales.

The following amendment has been tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Add new points at the end of motion:

Regrets the removal of hundreds of millions of pounds of funding from the Welsh rural economy by the Conservative UK Government.

Regrets the lack of long-term funding certainty for farm support since the UK has left the European Union.

The item started at 18.09

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8307 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the importance of the rural economy and the role that small businesses play in rural communities across Wales.

2. Recognises the valuable contribution of Welsh farming to the rural economy.

3. Acknowledges the benefits of events such as the Royal Welsh Show, the National Eisteddfod and others in supporting rural communities and promoting the Welsh language and culture.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) create an infrastructure strategy to address the challenges facing rural communities; and

b) redouble efforts to tackle poor public transport connectivity across rural Wales.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Add new points at the end of motion:

Regrets the removal of hundreds of millions of pounds of funding from the Welsh rural economy by the Conservative UK Government.

Regrets the lack of long-term funding certainty for farm support since the UK has left the European Union.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM8307 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the importance of the rural economy and the role that small businesses play in rural communities across Wales.

2. Recognises the valuable contribution of Welsh farming to the rural economy.

3. Acknowledges the benefits of events such as the Royal Welsh Show, the National Eisteddfod and others in supporting rural communities and promoting the Welsh language and culture.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) create an infrastructure strategy to address the challenges facing rural communities; and

b) redouble efforts to tackle poor public transport connectivity across rural Wales.

5. Regrets the removal of hundreds of millions of pounds of funding from the Welsh rural economy by the Conservative UK Government.

6. Regrets the lack of long-term funding certainty for farm support since the UK has left the European Union.

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 19.17

NDM8305 Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Vulnerable older homeowners living in homes unfit for human habitation

The item started at 19.21

NDM8305 Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Vulnerable older homeowners living in homes unfit for human habitation.